This page contains information on specific filing dates for each election year, how to become a candidate, how to create a political party, campaign finance requirements, state agency contacts involved in the election process, and term limits in Indiana. Information on running for election as a presidential candidate or for county and municipal offices is not included.

Note: If you have any questions or comments about this page, email us.

The deadline to file paperwork to create a new political party in time for the general election was August 21, 2014. At that time, the new political party also had to submit the names of their candidates for the general election.[2]

In order to participate in the primary election in Indiana, candidates must have filed a Declaration of Candidacy by February 7, 2014. Independent and minor party candidates only participate in the general election. They needed to file a petition of nomination with the County Voter Registration Office by June 30, 2014 to be certified and then turn in a Declaration of Candidacy form with their certified petition of nomination to the Indiana Secretary of State by July 15, 2014.[3][4]

Contact information for county offices and the Election Division can be found on this page under the section titled "Election-related agencies." Challenges against candidates had to be filed by September 1, 2014.[4]

These deadlines, as well as campaign finance reporting deadlines, are listed in the table below.

Legend:Ballot accessCampaign financeElection date

Dates and requirements for candidates in 2014

Deadline

Event type

Event description

February 7, 2014

Ballot access

Candidate filing deadline for primary election

April 15, 2014

Campaign finance

First Quarterly Report due for state executive candidates

April 18, 2014

Campaign finance

Pre-primary Report due for state legislative candidates

May 6, 2014

Election Date

Primary election date

June 30, 2014

Ballot access

Deadline for nominating petitions to be filed with the County Voter Registration Office

July 15, 2014

Ballot access

Filing deadline for independent and minor party candidates for the general election

July 15, 2014

Campaign finance

Second Quarterly Report due for state executive candidates

August 21, 2014

Ballot access

Deadline to establish a new political party

September 1, 2014

Ballot access

Deadline to challenge a candidate's placement on the ballot

October 15, 2014

Campaign finance

Third Quarterly Report due for state executive candidates

October 17, 2014

Campaign finance

Pre-election Report due for state legislative candidates

October 28, 2014

Campaign finance

Fourth Quarterly Report due for state executive candidates

November 4, 2014

Election Date

General election

January 21, 2014

Campaign finance

Annual Report due

Political parties

As of January 2015, the state of Indiana officially recognized three political parties. In order to be officially recognized by the state, a political party's candidate for Secretary of State must have received at least two percent of the vote cast in the most recent general election.[4][5]

In some states, a candidate may choose to have a label other than that of an officially recognized party appear alongside his or her name on the ballot. Such labels are called political party designations. A political party designation would be used when a candidate qualifies as an independent, but prefers to use a different label. Indiana does allow candidates to identify in this way. A total of 25 states allow candidates to use political party designations in non-presidential elections.[4][6]

The 11 states listed below (and Washington, D.C.) do not provide a process for political organizations to gain qualified status in advance of an election. Instead, in these states, an aspirant party must first field candidates using party designations. If the candidate or candidates win the requisite votes, the organization may then be recognized as an official political party. In these states, a political party can be formed only if the candidate in the general election obtains a specific number of votes. The number of votes required and type of race vary from state to state. Details can be found on the state-specific requirements pages.[7]

Process to establish a political party

In Indiana a political party is a group of voters whose candidate received at least 2 percent of the total votes cast for Indiana Secretary of State in the most recent election.[4]

In order to be recognized as a political party, a group must first file a statement of organization with the Indiana Secretary of State no later than 10 days after raising or spending $100 or no later than August 21, whichever occurs first. The new political party must also file candidate names and a party device to the secretary of state's election office by that date in order for the office to certify it in time for the general election. The party device is a logo, including words or pictures, that helps distinguish one party from another.[2]

The party's candidates must then file by petition method, in the same way independent candidates run. On the nominating petition, however, candidates can designate the party they are running with and use the party device to further distinguish themselves from independent candidates.[8]

If the new party's candidate for secretary of state receives at least 2 percent of the total votes cast, the party can nominate its candidates at a state convention rather than by petition method. If the new party's candidate for secretary of state receives at least 10 percent of the total vote, the party can nominate its candidates through a primary election.[9][10] For an example of the number of votes required, look to the table below.

Process to become a candidate

A candidate in Indiana may run with an officially recognized political party, as an independent or as a write-in. The process to qualify varies depending on the type of candidate and the office being sought. No fee is required to file for office in Indiana. Before the general election, registered voters have the right to challenge any candidate's placement on the ballot. Challenges must be filed with the Election Division of the Indiana Secretary of State's Office 74 days before the general election.[15][4]

File a Statement of Economic Interest form (location varies based on office). If seeking office in the Indiana State Senate, this form must be filed with the Principal Secretary of the Indiana State Senate. If seeking office in the Indiana House of Representatives, this form must be filed with the Principal Clerk of the Indiana House of Representatives. Statement of Economic Interest forms must be submitted as the original document, submitted in person or sent by mail. No faxes or photocopies will be accepted. Candidates may turn this form in as early as January 2 of the election year. The Election Division of the Indiana Secretary of State's Office will not accept any other form until the Statement of Economic Interest, stamped by the corresponding office, has been submitted.[18]

File a Statement of Economic Interest form (location varies based on office). If seeking office in the Indiana State Senate, this form must be filed with the Principal Secretary of the Indiana State Senate. If seeking office in the Indiana House of Representatives, this form must be filed with the Principal Clerk of the Indiana House of Representatives. Statement of Economic Interest forms must be submitted as the original document, submitted in person or sent by mail. No faxes or photocopies will be accepted. Candidates may turn this form in as early as January 2 of the election year. The Election Division of the Indiana Secretary of State's Office will not accept any other forms until the Statement of Economic Interest, stamped by the corresponding office, has been submitted.[4][18]

Minor party or independent candidates

Collect signatures of registered voters equal to 2 percent of the total votes cast for Secretary of State in the last election in the election district the candidate seeks to represent. Signatures may be collected starting 118 days before the primary election and must be completed by June 30. These signatures must then be certified by the applicable county voter registration office.

Collect signatures of registered voters equal to 2 percent of the total votes cast for Secretary of State in the last election. Signatures may be collected starting 118 days before the primary election and must be completed by June 30. These signatures must then be certified by the applicable county voter registration office.

File a Statement of Economic Interest form (location varies based on office). If seeking office in the Indiana State Senate, this form must be filed with the Principal Secretary of the Indiana State Senate. If seeking office in the Indiana House of Representatives, this form must be filed with the Principal Clerk of the Indiana House of Representatives. Statement of Economic Interest forms must be submitted as the original document, submitted in person or sent by mail. No faxes or photocopies will be accepted. Candidates may turn the form in as early as January 2 of the election year. The Election Division of the Indiana Secretary of State's Office will not accept any other filings until the Statement of Economic Interest, stamped by the corresponding office, has been submitted.[4][18]

Collect signatures of registered voters equal to 2 percent of the total votes cast for Secretary of State in the last election in the election district the candidate seeks to represent. Signatures may be collected starting 118 days before the primary election and must be completed by June 30. These signatures must then be certified by the applicable county voter registration office.

File a Statement of Economic Interest form (location varies based on office). If seeking office in the Indiana State Senate, this form must be filed with the Principal Secretary of the Indiana State Senate. If seeking office in the Indiana House of Representatives, this form must be filed with the Principal Clerk of the Indiana House of Representatives. Statement of Economic Interest forms must be submitted as the original document, submitted in person or sent by mail. No faxes or photocopies will be accepted. Candidates may turn the form in as early as January 2 of the election year. The Election Division of the Indiana Secretary of State's Office will not accept any other forms until the Statement of Economic Interest, stamped by the corresponding office, has been submitted.[4][18]

Petition requirements

In some cases, political parties and/or candidates may need to obtain signatures via the petition process to gain ballot access. This section outlines the laws and regulations pertaining to petitions and circulators in Indiana.

A registered voter that agrees to sign a candidate's petition must provide his or her name in legible, printed form and his or her residential address. Once a petition is completed, it must be filed with the county voter registration office to certify each signature's validity. Contact information for Indiana's county voter registration offices can be found on this page under the section titled "Election-related agencies."[21]

Reporting requirements

Figure 2: This is the Statement of Organization form for candidates seeking office in Indiana.

Unless they are seeking an office with compensation equaling less than $5,000, all candidates seeking a state office in Indiana must file a Statement of Organization form (CFA-1 form) with the Election Division of the Indiana Secretary of State's Office. The Statement of Organization designates a principal campaign finance committee, naming a chairperson and treasurer who will be in charge of reporting campaign finances. A candidate may act as either or both positions. The Statement of Organization must be filed no later than noon (local prevailing time) 10 days after becoming a candidate or noon (local prevailing time) seven days after the final day to file as a candidate, whichever occurs first. An individual is considered a candidate when the individual, the individual's committee or a person acting with the consent of the individual receives contributions or makes expenditures in excess of $100.[22][23]

The first Quarterly Report covers all financial activity from January 1 (or the first day a principal campaign finance committee is organized) to March 31 and is due at noon (local prevailing time) on April 15.

The second Quarterly Report covers all financial activity from April 1 to June 30 and is due at noon (local prevailing time) on July 15.

The third Quarterly Report covers all financial activity from July 1 to September 30 and is due at noon (local prevailing time) on October 15.

The fourth Quarterly Report covers all financial activity from October 1 until the date 15 days prior to the general election. It is due by noon (local prevailing time) seven days before the general election.

The Annual Report covers all financial activity starting on the date 14 days before the general election through December 31. It is due by noon (local prevailing time) on the third Wednesday in January following the election.

Supplemental Reports must be filed within seven days of receiving a single contribution of $10,000 or more at any time or within 48 hours of receiving a total of $1,000 or more in multiple contributions during a supplemental reporting period. The four supplemental reporting periods are as follows: April 1 through April 15, July 1 through July 15, October 1 through October 15, and October 21 through noon on October 28.

Candidates seeking office in the Indiana State Legislature must file three quarterly reports (CFA-4 form): a Pre-primary Report, a Pre-election Report and an Annual Report with the Election Division of the Indiana Secretary of State's Office. A Primary Election Supplemental Report and General Election Supplemental Report (CFA-11 form) may also be required. The Election Division of the Indiana Secretary of State's Office mails to the candidate the appropriate forms three weeks before the report is due.[22][23][24]

Pre-primary Reports cover all financial activity starting January 1 (or the first day a principal campaign finance committee is organized) until 25 days before a primary election. These reports must be filed by noon (local prevailing time) seven days after the last day covered in the report.

Pre-election Reports cover all financial activity starting 24 days before the primary election through 25 days before the general election and must be filed by noon (local prevailing time) seven days after the last day covered in the report. If a candidate is defeated at a primary or convention, withdraws, or is disqualified to run in the general election in any way, a Pre-election Report is not required. Instead, the Annual Report will cover the time period since the last report.

Annual Reports cover all financial activity starting 24 days before the general election through December 31 of the election year. These must be filed by noon (local prevailing time) on the third Wednesday in January following the election.

Supplemental Reports cover all financial activity 25 days before a convention, primary, or general election until two days before the convention, primary or general election. These must be filed only if a candidate’s committee receives a total of $1,000 or more in multiple contributions during a supplemental reporting period. The Supplemental Report must be filed within 48 hours of receiving such contributions. Those contributions must also be included on the next quarterly report.

A minor party, independent or write-in candidate first files financial reports for the period starting on the day he or she becomes a candidate and ending 14 days after their nomination date or filing deadline. Reports must be filed with the Election Division of the Indiana Secretary of State's Office by noon (local prevailing time) seven days after the last date covered in the report.[22][23]

Additional reports that may need to be filed include the following:[22][23]

Outgoing Treasurer's Reports (CFA-4 form) are needed if a committee appoints a new treasurer during an election year. These reports cover financial activity occurring from the day after the most recent report until the last day the individual acted as treasurer. These reports are filed by the former treasurer.

Final/Disbanding Reports (CFA-4 form) must be filed if a committee disbands. These are due no later than 30 days after the disbanding and must cover financial activity occurring since the most recent report until the last day the committee existed.

Contribution limits

In addition to reporting requirements, candidates are also subject to contribution limits:[22]

Candidates cannot solicit or accept campaign contributions or conduct fundraising activities during the period beginning in January when the Indiana State Legislature reconvenes and ending when the legislature adjourns during odd-numbered years.

If a principal campaign finance committee accepts contributions or makes expenditures of more than $200 in a year, those funds cannot be mingled with personal funds of officers, members or associates of the committee.

Campaign funds may only be used to: campaign for public office, continue political activity and activity related to service in an election office or to make an expenditure to any national, state, or local committee of any political party or another candidate’s committee.

Counties

County offices are used to certify nominating petitions. Individual county contact information can be found below. If a website or email address is not provided, it is because one does not exist for this municipality. To submit information for this table, please email us.